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Description

This error indicates that a SQL statement or function within SAP S/4HANA received an argument of an incorrect data type. It typically occurs when an application or custom code attempts to pass a value (e.g., a string) to a database parameter that expects a different type (e.g., a number or date), leading to a type mismatch during execution.

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Error Message

ERR_SQL_INV_ARGUMENT

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Known Causes

3 known causes

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Incorrect Data Type in SQL Query

A SQL query or stored procedure call attempts to use a variable or literal with a data type that does not match the expected type for a column or parameter.

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Mismatched Parameter Binding

When calling a database procedure or function module, the data type of an input parameter passed from the application code does not align with the defined type of the corresponding parameter in the procedure's signature.

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Application Development Error

Custom ABAP code, a report, or an integration module is passing data to a database function or table field with an incompatible data type, indicating a bug in the application logic.

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Solutions

3 solutions available

1. Validate Data Types in ABAP Code and SQL Statements medium

Ensure that data types used in ABAP programs and SQL statements align with the database schema.

1

Identify the ABAP program and specific SQL statement that is triggering the error. This often requires debugging the ABAP code or analyzing application logs.

Example: Use transaction ST05 (SQL Trace) to capture the SQL statement.

2

Examine the data types of variables in the ABAP code that are being passed as parameters to the SQL statement. Compare these with the corresponding column data types in the SAP S/4HANA database tables.

Example ABAP snippet (conceptual):
DATA: lv_char_field TYPE char20.
DATA: lv_num_field TYPE i.

* Incorrect type usage might lead to the error if char20 is passed to a numeric column or vice-versa.
SELECT SINGLE * FROM some_table WHERE numeric_column = lv_char_field.

3

If a mismatch is found, correct the ABAP data type to match the database column type. This might involve explicit type casting or changing the variable declaration.

Example ABAP correction:
DATA: lv_char_field TYPE char20.
DATA: lv_num_field TYPE i.

SELECT SINGLE * FROM some_table WHERE numeric_column = lv_num_field. " Assuming numeric_column expects a number.

4

For native SQL statements executed from ABAP, ensure that the literals or variables used in the WHERE clause or INSERT/UPDATE statements have compatible data types with the target columns.

Example native SQL (conceptual):
EXEC SQL.
  SELECT * FROM some_table WHERE numeric_column = 'abc'
ENDEXEC.

* 'abc' is a character literal, which might cause an invalid argument type error if numeric_column is a numeric type.

5

If the error originates from a standard SAP S/4HANA program, it might indicate a bug in the SAP code or an incorrect configuration. In such cases, consult SAP Notes and consider raising a support ticket.

N/A

2. Review Stored Procedure and Function Parameters medium

Verify the data types of parameters passed to and returned by stored procedures and functions.

1

If the error occurs during the execution of a stored procedure or function, identify the specific procedure/function and the calling context (e.g., from an ABAP program, another database object).

N/A

2

Examine the definition of the stored procedure or function in the database. Pay close attention to the data types of input and output parameters.

Example SQL (conceptual - syntax may vary slightly based on specific database):
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE my_proc (
  p_input_date IN DATE,
  p_output_value OUT VARCHAR2(50)
) AS
BEGIN
  -- ... procedure logic ...
END;

3

Compare the data types of the values being passed to the procedure/function from the calling program with the declared parameter types. Ensure they are compatible.

Example ABAP calling a procedure (conceptual):
DATA: lv_date TYPE d.
DATA: lv_output TYPE string.

CALL 'MY_PROC' (
  EXPORTING
    p_input_date = lv_date
  IMPORTING
    p_output_value = lv_output
).

4

If the calling program is passing data of an incompatible type (e.g., a string to a DATE parameter), adjust the calling program to pass the correct data type or perform necessary conversions before calling.

Example ABAP conversion:
DATA: lv_date_string TYPE string VALUE '20231027'.
DATA: lv_date TYPE d.

CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERT_STRING_TO_DATE' EXPORTING input = lv_date_string IMPORTING output = lv_date.

CALL 'MY_PROC' (
  EXPORTING
    p_input_date = lv_date
  IMPORTING
    p_output_value = lv_output
).

5

Also, verify that the data types of any variables receiving output from the procedure/function are capable of holding the returned data.

N/A

3. Check for Incorrect Data Formatting or Character Encoding medium

Address issues related to how data is formatted or encoded, especially for character and date/time types.

1

Analyze the data being inserted or updated into character-based columns. Ensure that special characters or extended ASCII characters are handled correctly and that the database can interpret them.

N/A

2

For date and time fields, verify that the format being used in the input data matches the expected format of the database column or the format expected by the application layer for conversion.

Example: If a database column expects 'YYYY-MM-DD' and the input is 'DD/MM/YYYY', this can lead to errors.

3

If the error occurs during data migration or bulk loading, review the source data and the ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes to ensure data integrity and correct formatting.

N/A

4

Consider character encoding issues. If your SAP S/4HANA system uses a specific encoding (e.g., UTF-8), ensure that incoming data is also in the correct encoding.

N/A

5

Use database tools or ABAP debugging to inspect the actual data values that are causing the error. This can help pinpoint specific problematic entries.

N/A

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Related Errors

5 related errors

SAP S/4HANA Error 293: SQL Invalid Argument Type